Wynter Reeves is a law-abiding citizen of the State, a willing conformist whose daily life is haunted by terrorism and oppression. With the constant threat of death hanging over her like a shadow, she forces herself to live by a strict set of rules, all in the hope of ensuring she is never noticed. However, on her twenty-first birthday, as she prepares to take the placement exam that will determine her future within society, she begins to show symptoms of a rare and debilitating illness—ultimately attracting the attention of the State. Taken into the custody of the feared research facility known as the DSD, her worst nightmare becomes reality.

Ripped away from the life she knew, Wynter is forced to become the test subject of the mysterious Dr. Richter. Through him, she learns the true and terrifying nature of her condition: a disease called Ultraxenopia.

Review:

I initially read and reviewed Ultraxenopia when it was self-published and it was my number one read of the year. It's now been completely revised, together with the most breathtakingly beautiful front cover image I have ever seen. This is my review of this new, revised publication.

I was immediately struck by the author's fantastically descriptive writing style. There is such meticulous attention to detail that every possible query is accounted for. This debut novel is intelligently written and haunting with a gripping plot. It is just extraordinary. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! It is in turn shocking, thrilling, horrifying yet so beautifully written.

Wynter is a great character. She's vulnerable yet feisty, determined and resilient. She is so likeable and I believe that readers, be they fans of young, or new, adult, or other genres, they will find it very difficult not to feel empathy for Wynter. Dr Richter, on the other hand, is the complete opposite; he's the epitome of every evil villain you could ever encounter.

I'd pretty much stopped reading dystopian books because many of them were so alike and I got disheartened, but Ultraxenopia has restored my faith in the genre. It is, hands down, the best dystopian novel I'veeverread- better than all the Divergent, Hunger Games and Maze Runner books.

It is difficult to say much else without giving away too much of the plot, but suffice to say, I read it in one sitting as I simply could not put it down! I was utterly engrossed and unaware of my surroundings. It felt as though I was experiencing every emotion alongside Wynter, and was as desperate as she to fight for survival. I simply cannot praise it highly enough!

Ultraxenopia, a YA dystopian thriller by M. A. Phipps is published by Seven Sisters Publishing on August 1st 2017. I first read Ultraxenopia back when the author self-published in 2015 and it was my top read of that year. Despite not being a regular reader of YA fiction, the story of Wynter Reeves has long since stayed with me and I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Here is the stunning new cover image, designed by Nathalia Suellen.

Exerpt:

Don’t stand out. Blend in. Remain invisible. Those are the rules I lived by—the rules I thought would keep me alive. I was wrong.

Wynter Reeves is a law-abiding citizen of the State, a willing conformist whose daily life is haunted by terrorism and oppression. With the constant threat of death hanging over her like a shadow, she forces herself to live by a strict set of rules, all in the hope of ensuring she is never noticed. However, on her twenty-first birthday, as she prepares to take the placement exam that will determine her future within society, she begins to show symptoms of a rare and debilitating illness—ultimately attracting the attention of the State. Taken into the custody of the feared research facility known as the DSD, her worst nightmare becomes reality. Ripped away from the life she knew, Wynter is forced to become the test subject of the mysterious Dr. Richter. Through him, she learns the true and terrifying nature of her condition: a disease called Ultraxenopia.

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About the author

M. A. PHIPPS is an American author who resides near the ocean in picturesque Cornwall with her husband, daughter, and their Jack Russell, Milo. A lover of the written word, it has always been her dream to become a published author, and it is her hope to expand into multiple genres of fiction. When she isn’t writing, you can find her counting down the days until the new season of Game of Thrones.

You can make contact with the author v via her official webpage here or via

“This isn’t how it looks,” I stammer.A sarcastic laugh explodes from his lungs, echoing through the otherwise soundless bar.“Really? Because, from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re one of them.”“I’m not.” The words sound weak and unconvincing.He pushes the barrel of the gun against my temple, and our faces are so close now that I can feel his heated breath against my lips.“Why should I believe you?” he growls.I tense my jaw, spitting my next words through clenched teeth. “If I was one of them, they would already be here,” I hiss back.The State doesn’t play games. He must know that better than anyone. They wouldn’t waste time sending in a single person when they could more efficiently get the job done by sending a whole team. If I was one of them, the Enforcers would already be here. The State wouldn’t bother with this game of charades.His expression doesn’t change, but I can see his true reaction in his gaze—the doubt that appears there. He seems to grasp that what I’ve said makes sense, but at the same time, can’t wrap his head around any other reason why I’d be here.He wavers, and I can feel his uncertainty in the way the point of his gun wobbles against my skin. His eyes remain fixed on mine, making my heart race even faster. I only glance away when I notice a movement to my right. Looking up, I see another man now standing beside us.“We can’t take any chances,” the man grumbles before spitting on the floor in front of me. “We should kill her to be sure.”A deep-rooted panic washes over me, the fear like a smoldering and inextinguishable ember. Despite everything I’ve seen, I still have my doubts as to what’s really happening, and I can’t help worrying that this won’t end well. How can it? I won’t even be given the chance to defend myself.He presses the gun even harder against my forehead, causing me to suck in a sharp breath. Our eyes lock once again.“How do you know my name?”I stare at him, trying to figure out the best way to answer his question. His hazel eyes are probing, but I find myself losing focus on his expression. His face has gone hazy, the bar even darker. The nausea from before returns with a vengeance, consuming my entire body and pressing down on me with a force that threatens to pin me to the floor.I sway, lightheaded.A strange trickling resonates around us, the sound deafening in the hushed bar. At first, I think I’m imagining it, but then I see the alarming change in his face.His eyebrows pull together as he looks down, and suddenly, he’s taking a reflexive step back. I follow his gaze once more, my own vision doubling as I take in the tremendous pool of red that seems to surround me.I watch the blood as it drips from my open wrist, the bandage soaked through and unravelling from its hiding place in the no longer white sleeve.His eyes snap back to mine, and my every movement feels delayed as I glance up to meet them. The moment I do, the images from my vision flash through my thoughts, reminding me why I’m here.I see his face. His hazel eyes.I see his tears.“I’m sorry, Wynter.”Any and all light that the bar possessed vanishes in an instant, and the pain I had managed to forget hits me all at once. I gaze at him, concentrating on his face as much as my increasing blood loss will allow. Focusing on his eyes, which continue to stare back at me.My lips pull into a smile as the darkness rushes to overcome me.“I saw you,” I breathe.

I'm super excited that Ultraxenopia, my top read of 2015, is being re-released by Seven Sisters Publishing on August 1st 2017. It has a simply breathtaking new cover image, designed by Nathalia Suellen.

Don’t stand out. Blend in. Remain invisible. Those are the rules I lived by—the rules I thought would keep me alive. I was wrong.

Wynter Reeves is a law-abiding citizen of the State, a willing conformist whose daily life is haunted by terrorism and oppression. With the constant threat of death hanging over her like a shadow, she forces herself to live by a strict set of rules, all in the hope of ensuring she is never noticed. However, on her twenty-first birthday, as she prepares to take the placement exam that will determine her future within society, she begins to show symptoms of a rare and debilitating illness—ultimately attracting the attention of the State. Taken into the custody of the feared research facility known as the DSD, her worst nightmare becomes reality. Ripped away from the life she knew, Wynter is forced to become the test subject of the mysterious Dr. Richter. Through him, she learns the true and terrifying nature of her condition: a disease called Ultraxenopia.

M. A. PHIPPS is an American author who resides near the ocean in picturesque Cornwall with her husband, daughter, and their Jack Russell, Milo. A lover of the written word, it has always been her dream to become a published author, and it is her hope to expand into multiple genres of fiction. When she isn’t writing, you can find her counting down the days until the new season of Game of Thrones.

You can make contact with the author v via her official webpage here or via

“This isn’t how it looks,” I stammer.A sarcastic laugh explodes from his lungs, echoing through the otherwise soundless bar.“Really? Because, from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re one of them.”“I’m not.” The words sound weak and unconvincing.He pushes the barrel of the gun against my temple, and our faces are so close now that I can feel his heated breath against my lips.“Why should I believe you?” he growls.I tense my jaw, spitting my next words through clenched teeth. “If I was one of them, they would already be here,” I hiss back.The State doesn’t play games. He must know that better than anyone. They wouldn’t waste time sending in a single person when they could more efficiently get the job done by sending a whole team. If I was one of them, the Enforcers would already be here. The State wouldn’t bother with this game of charades.His expression doesn’t change, but I can see his true reaction in his gaze—the doubt that appears there. He seems to grasp that what I’ve said makes sense, but at the same time, can’t wrap his head around any other reason why I’d be here.He wavers, and I can feel his uncertainty in the way the point of his gun wobbles against my skin. His eyes remain fixed on mine, making my heart race even faster. I only glance away when I notice a movement to my right. Looking up, I see another man now standing beside us.“We can’t take any chances,” the man grumbles before spitting on the floor in front of me. “We should kill her to be sure.”A deep-rooted panic washes over me, the fear like a smoldering and inextinguishable ember. Despite everything I’ve seen, I still have my doubts as to what’s really happening, and I can’t help worrying that this won’t end well. How can it? I won’t even be given the chance to defend myself.He presses the gun even harder against my forehead, causing me to suck in a sharp breath. Our eyes lock once again.“How do you know my name?”I stare at him, trying to figure out the best way to answer his question. His hazel eyes are probing, but I find myself losing focus on his expression. His face has gone hazy, the bar even darker. The nausea from before returns with a vengeance, consuming my entire body and pressing down on me with a force that threatens to pin me to the floor.I sway, lightheaded.A strange trickling resonates around us, the sound deafening in the hushed bar. At first, I think I’m imagining it, but then I see the alarming change in his face.His eyebrows pull together as he looks down, and suddenly, he’s taking a reflexive step back. I follow his gaze once more, my own vision doubling as I take in the tremendous pool of red that seems to surround me.I watch the blood as it drips from my open wrist, the bandage soaked through and unravelling from its hiding place in the no longer white sleeve.His eyes snap back to mine, and my every movement feels delayed as I glance up to meet them. The moment I do, the images from my vision flash through my thoughts, reminding me why I’m here.I see his face. His hazel eyes.I see his tears.“I’m sorry, Wynter.”Any and all light that the bar possessed vanishes in an instant, and the pain I had managed to forget hits me all at once. I gaze at him, concentrating on his face as much as my increasing blood loss will allow. Focusing on his eyes, which continue to stare back at me.My lips pull into a smile as the darkness rushes to overcome me.“I saw you,” I breathe.

Wynter Reeves is a law-abiding citizen of the State, a willing conformist whose daily life is haunted by terrorism and oppression. With the constant threat of death hanging over her like a shadow, she forces herself to live by a strict set of rules, all in the hope of ensuring she is never noticed. However, on her twenty-first birthday, as she prepares to take the placement exam that will determine her future within society, she begins to show symptoms of a rare and debilitating illness—ultimately attracting the attention of the State. Taken into the custody of the feared research facility known as the DSD, her worst nightmare becomes reality.

Ripped away from the life she knew, Wynter is forced to become the test subject of the mysterious Dr. Richter. Through him, she learns the true and terrifying nature of her condition: a disease called Ultraxenopia.

Author Bio: M. A. PHIPPS is an American author who resides near the ocean in picturesque Cornwall with her husband, daughter, and their Jack Russell, Milo. A lover of the written word, it has always been her dream to become a published author, and it is her hope to expand into multiple genres of fiction. When she isn’t writing, you can find her counting down the days until the new season of Game of Thrones.

Excerpt: “Her blood type,” she whispers in a hushed voice to the man. “It’s . . . changing.” I may not know much about science, or anything medical having to do with the human body, but I know enough to be certain that what she’s saying isn’t possible. Not without unnatural intervention at least. I gape at the man, but he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t even seem to react to this news. His eyes follow the code for a while, and his fingers rub his chin as if deep in thought. When the process is complete, the sphere stops spinning and sinks back to the desktop, landing with a soft thud against the glass surface. Within seconds of touching down, the metal exterior shifts until it’s once again nothing more than a silver bowl filled with blood. The man straightens up, and everyone in the room watches him in silence, waiting for him to speak. Including me. “Fascinating,” he murmurs. Without warning, he looks over at me, and my heart rate increases when his lips curl into a smile. For some reason, his expression is unnerving. Moving toward me, his footsteps echo off the floor—the sound growing louder as the distance between us shrinks. His gaze never leaves mine. Stopping just in front of me, he flashes a kind smile. “Hello, Wynter. My name is Dr. Richter. I’ll be taking care of you.” Taking care of me? “Why am I here?” I breathe. My voice is shaky, and the dryness in my throat is apparent in each raspy word. “What are you going to do to me?” “Shh, hush now,” he whispers. “All of your questions will be answered in time.” He smiles once again, only breaking eye contact with me to glance down at his hand. I follow his gaze, the fear re-emerging when I see him pull a syringe from the depths of his coat pocket. His eyes flash back to mine, and I know he can sense my fear as well as the piercing screams lodged in my throat. “But for now,” he croons as he injects the syringe into one of the tubes in my right arm, “you must sleep.” He takes a step away from me, that disconcerting expression still plastered across his face. I try to say something, but I’m unable to get out a single word before I feel the effects of the liquid as it enters my system. It rushes through me like a cold chill. I want to fight against it, but it’s hopeless. As the drowsiness returns to pull me under yet again, the doctor’s smile is all I can see.

I was given an arc of this book to read for an honest review. It was my first dystopian novel but won't be my last. I took a chance on it because I'm a fan of Divergent and Hunger Games movie series. I really enjoyed the story. You can feel the intense emotions of the main characters. This novel held my interest from page one. It was a very easy yet intense read. I am only giving it 4 stars because it left me wanting more... More background, more development of supporting characters, more of a picture of the world the story took place in. The story drew me in yet left me wanting more in a good way. I'm completely invested in the series and hope the world expands in the future books. It has also peaked my interest in the genre. I may have to go back and read the novels of the movies I love so much.

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